Device for changing quickly the sole and heel pattern in a vulcanizing machine



I July 24, 1962 L. R. HEIDEMAN DEVICE FOR CHANGING QUICKLY THE SOLE AND HEEL PATTERN IN A VULCANIZING MACHINE Filed April 27, 1960 United States Patent() 3,045,282 DEVICE FOR CHANGING QUIQKLY TIE SOLE AND HEEL PATTERlil IN A VULCANIZING MACHINE Leslie R. Heideman, St. Louis, Mo., assigner to International Shoe Company, St. Louis, Mo., a corporation of Delaware Filed Apr. 27, 1960, Ser. No. 25,023 Claims. (Cl. l8 17) The present invention relates generally to machines for vulcanizing soles and heels to boots and shoes, and more particularly to a novel device for changing quickly the sole and heel pattern or design applied by such machines.

There are presently in use machines for vulcanizing a sole and heel directly to the upper of a boot or shoe. Such machines have been employed in the shoe industry for some years, yet, in the knowledge of the applicant, no means has been provided for quickly changing the pattern or design on the wearing Surface of the soleand heel. In the machines in use today, it is possible to buy parts for replacement of comparable parts in the basic machine when it is desired to change the design or configuration of the sole and heel, but such auxiliary parts are expensive and it is very time-consuming and expensive to change parts.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a novel structure for effecting rapidly a change in sole and heel surface design or configuration applied by such machines.

In brief, the present novel device comprises a heel plate and a sole plate for insertion into a machine which vulcanizes a sole and heel to the upper of a shoe or boot. These plates have the top side of a preselected design as desired on the shoe bottom, and the bottom side complementary to the original design of the machine pattern.

The plates are of inexpensive heat conducting material capable of standing 325 F. without shrinking or swelling and which is suiiciently soft to avoid scoring the sides or walls of cylinders of the molding machine. The plates are maintained in a preheater for quick application to the molding machine to avoid loss of time, and are simply placed into the molding machine on top of the provided pattern without any fastening means being required.

Therefore, a further object is to provide novel sole and heel design insert plates for insertion into machines ernployed for vulcanizing soles and heels to the shoes and boots.

Another object is to provide novel insert sole and heel plates for shoe vulcanizing machines which are of a material avoiding scratching of the walls of the cylinders of the machine, which are capable of standing upwards of 325 F. temperature without shrinking or swelling, which readily transfer or conduct heat, and which are inexpensive.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages are apparent from the following description taken with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a vertical, longitudinal, cross-sectional view through one of a pair of adjacent connected machines for vulcanizing the sole and the heel of a shoe to the upper;

FIGURE 2 is a horizontal cross-sectional view through the machine of FIGURE l, taken on substantially the line 2 2 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is an isometric view of the ramrner of the machine with the design pattern of the sole and heel mounted thereon;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical longitudinal cross-sectional view taken on substantially the line 4 4 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 isv an enlarged fragmentary vertical trans- ICC verse cross-sectional view taken on substantiallyrthe line 5 5 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 6 is a top plan view of a novel sole plate formed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention;

FIGURE 7 is a bottom plan view thereof;

FIGURE 8 is a top plan view of a novel heel plate incorporating the teachings of the present invention;

FIGURE 9 is a bottom plan view thereof;

FIGURE 10 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG- URE 4, showing the sole plate of FIGURES 6 and 7 and the heel plate of FIGURES 8 and 9 on the pattern in operative relation thereto; and

FIGURE 1l is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG- URE 5, illustrating the sole plate of FIGURES 6 and 7 and the heel plate of FIGURES 8 and 9 in position on the pattern.

Referring to the drawing more particularly by reference numerals, the machine shown in FIGURES 1, 2, and 3 is shown and described in British Patent No. 673,184, the complete specification for which was published `Tune 4, 1952, and, per se, forms no part of the present invention. The limited disclosure herein in the drawing and description is for purpose of disclosure of the present novel method of changing sole and heel designs.

Briefly, the sole and heel vulcanizing machine lill comprises a pedestal Il (FIGS. 1 and 2) on which rest columns 12 sustaining the working frame or platform 13.

The pedestal ll is provided with cross bars 14 on which rest the parts driving the machine and hollow columns l5 each of which supports a motor cylinder 16, in which works a plunger 17 provided with appropriate packing 1S, said cylinder being formed in a block having two lateral projections 19 to which are fixed vertical stays 20 by means of rings 2land lock nuts 22.

The vertical stays 20 project through the frame 13, emerging to form a bridge with a cross bar 23 to which they are fixed by nuts 25. Said bridge carries a last 2.4

lfixed in grooves 26 by a closure 27.

The frame 13 is composed of various parts connected together by screws or other appropriate means, in such a manner as to form a double frame, with the particularity that they bear on the inside face of front and back guides 28 (FIG. 2) on which rest two pairs of jaws 29 constituting the lateral walls of the sole molding box, once they are pressed against each other.

The bottom of said platform or frame 13 is formed of two plates 30 provided in their central portion with boxshaped recesses .31 each of which serves as guide for a vramrner 32 (FIG. 3), which is guided in said recess by surfaces 33.

The rammer 32 is firmly attached to the piston 17, and therefore it participates in the vertical movement of said piston; it bears, fixed to its upper face by any easily adjustable means, pattern 34, for-ming the bottom of the molding box and provided with the appropriate configuration or design 35 for reproduction on the sole of the shoe, while the lateral surface of pattern 34 conforms with the walls of the box formed by the two jaws 29 when they are closed. Inside said pattern 34 there is a suitable recess to contain an electric resistance 35 or any other appropriate means of heating.

The movement of the jaws 29 is eected by means of cylinders 37, two cylinders being assigned to each jaw (FIGS. Vl and 2), the outer cylinder being formed -as projections on the inner surfaces of the lateral members of frame i3, while the inner cylinders are formed on a cross bar 33, fixed to said frame. The said cylinders house plungers 39, each provided with a gasket 40 and cooling vanes 41 to dissipate the heat transmitted by the jaws 29. The jaws tend to separate owing to the action of springs 42, coiled on cores 43, provided with adjusting screws 44 to regulate the pressure of the springs.

The jaws 29 are provided with adjustable stops 45 resting on the heads of guides 28.

The foregoing description of the machine is taken directly from said British Patent No. 673,184. It is not essential for disclosure of the present invention to detail the full operation of the machine 10, for example, as to supply of rubber or other material, the operation of the several cylinders, and the like.

In FIGURE 2, the two pairs of jaws 19 which form the lateral walls of the sole and heel molding box define with the upper face of the pattern 34 a sole and heel molding cavity 50. The upper wall or ceiling of the cavity 50 is defined, of course, by the bottomvof the last 24 and the supported shoe upper.

In FIGURE 6 is shown a novel insert sole plate 56 which is of the configuration shown in the drawing. In the illustrated embodiment, the sole plate 56 is smooth on the upper surface 58 and on the lower surface 60 carries a design complementary to the design 35 of the pattern 34. Similarly, the novel insert heel plate 62 of FIGURE 8 is smooth on the upper surface 64 and on the lower surface 66 carries a design complementary to the heel portion of the design 35 of the pattern 34.

`The sole plate 56 and the heel plate 62 may carry any selected design on the upper surface desired for impressing in the wearing surface of the sole `and heel of the shoe. The sole plate 56 and the heel plate 62 may be formed in any manner, as by casting. In one well known method of casting, the sole plate 56 and the heel plate 62 are cast in mold cavities made from plastic impressions taken from the pattern 34 with its design 35, the sole plate 56 and heel plate 62 thus bearing designs on the bottom surfaces 60 and 66, respectively, complementary to the design 35.

In FIGURES 10 and 11, the sole plate 56 and the heel plate 62 are shown superimposed on the pattern 34 of the machine 10 in snug firm interfitting relation.A The complementary design on the bottoms of the plates 56 and 62 fits into the design 35 of the pattern 34 in fully supported relation, so that there is no damage to the former in the heel and sole vulcanizing method. Pressure on the plates 56 and 62 reaches eight hundred pounds per square inch.

Referring to FIGURE 2 the sole plate 56 and the heel plate 62 are simply dropped in the mold cavity 50 on top of the pattern 34 and the machine 10 is ready for operation. No fastening means are necessary, since the sole plate 56 and the heel plate 62 will be maintained in position by the pressure of the rubber or other material used in forming the sole and heel for the shoe, and will be seated and centered by the complementary designs.

The plates 56 and 62 are formed of material which will transfer or conduct heat from the pattern 34 therethrough to the rubber or other material being vulcanized to the shoe upper. In addition, the material of these plates 56 and 62 should be able to stand 325 F. Without shrinking or swelling, yet lmust be soft enough not to score the side walls of the cylinders of the molding machine 10. One material found suitable is a babbit comprising sixty percent lead and forty percent tin.

The present article `and method provide great saving in money and time. Replaceable patterns 34 cost hundreds of dollars, whereas, the plates 56 and 62 cost ten percent, or less, of that amount. A machine must be shut down for several hours while the patterns 34 are changed by a trained mechanic; the plates 56 and 62 can be inserted and removed in seconds by the machine operator without stopping the machine. Patterns 34 require months to obtain, the plates 56 and 62 can be prepared 4almost overnight. Hence, new designs are no problem with the plates 56 and 62.

It should be noted that the sole plate 56 4and the heel plate 62 are maintained in a preheated unit in order to avoid loss of time which would be required to heat them were this step not carried out.

It is apparent that there 'has been provided a novel article and method of effecting rapid change of sole and heel design in the manufacture of shoes having sole and heel vulcanized to the upper, which fulfills the objects and advantages sought therefor.

It is to be understood that the foregoing description and the accompanying drawings have been given by way of illustration and example. It is also to be understood that changes in form of Athe several parts, substitution of equivalent elements or steps, and rearrangement of parts or steps, which will be readily apparent to one skilled in the art, are contemplated as within the scope of the present invention, which is limited only by the claims which follow.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination with a machine for vulcanizing a sole and heel to an upper having a mold cavity including a vertically movable pattern defining the bottom of said mold cavity and normally forming the design in the bottom of the sole and heel, of a removable freely riding sole plate and a removable freely riding heel plate on and completely covering said pattern, said sole and heel plates comprising and defining a temporary bottom for said mold cavity, said sole and heel plates having predetermined designs on the upper face thereof for forming the design in the bottom of a sole and a heel being vulcanized.

2. In combination with a machine for vulcanizing a sole and heel to an upper having a mold cavity including a vertically movable pattern defining the bottom of said mold cavity and normally forming the design in the bottom of the sole and heel, of a removable freely riding sole plate and a removable freely riding heel plate on and completely covering said pattern, said sole and heel plates comprising and defining a temporary bottom for said mold cavity, said sole and heel plates having predetermined designs on the upper face thereof for forming the design in the bottom of a sole `and heel being vulcanized, said plates being of material soft enough to avoid scratching of the walls of the mold cavity in insertion and removal and in vertical movement of the pattern.

3. In combination with a`machine for vulcanizing a sole and heel to an upper having a mold cavity including a vertically movable pattern defining the bottom of said mold cavity and normally forming the design in the bottom of the sole and heel, of a removable freely riding sole plate and a removable freely riding heel plate on and completely covering said pattern, said sole and heel plates comprising and defining a temporary bottom for said mold cavity, said sole and heel plates having predetermined designs on the upper face thereof for Aforming the design in the bottom of a sole and heel being vulcanized, said plates being of material soft enough to avoid scratching of the walls of the mold cavity in insertion and removal and in vertical movement of the pattern, said plates being of material adapted to stand 325 F. heat without deformation.

4. In combination with a machine for vulcanizing a sole and heel to an upper having a mold cavity including a vertically movable pattern defining the bottom of said mold cavity and normally forming the design in the bottom of the sole and heel, of a removable freely riding sole plate and a removable freely riding heel plate on and completely covering said pattern, said sole and heel plates comprising and defining a temporary bottom for said mold cavity, said sole and heel plates having predetermined designs on the upper face thereof for forming the design in the bottom of a sole and heel being vulcanized, said sole and heel plates having designs on the bottom surfaces complementary to the designs on the vertically movable pattern and being interengaged therewith.

5. In combination with a machine for vulcanizing a sole aeaaaez and heel to an upper having a mold cavity including a vertically movable pattern defining the bottom of said mold cavity and normally forming the design in the bottom of the sole and heel, of a removable freely riding sole plate and a removable freely riding heel plate on and completely covering said pattern, said sole and heel plates comprising and defining a temporary bottom for said mold cavity, said sole and heel plates having predetermined designs on the upper face thereof for forming the design in the bottom of a sole and heel being vulcanized, said sole and heel plates having designs on the bottom surfaces complementary to the designs on the vertically movable pattern and being interengaged therewith, said plates being of material soft enough to avoid scratching of the walls of the mold cavity in insertion and removal and in vertical movement of the pattern.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

